Fastener forming and driving tool



Jan. 25, 1966 J. E. WARD 3, 6

FASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING TOOL Filed Nov. 18, 1963 KSheets-Sheet lFIG. 8.

FIG. 3.

I N VEN TOR Asap/r Jan. 25, 1966 J. E. WARD 3,231,168

FASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING TOOL Filed NOV. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 257* INVENTOR.

Z7 J71ME$ 5 MRI? 6 BY 29 M. 36

Jan. 25, 1966 J. E. WARD 3,231,168

FASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING TOOL Filed Nov. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet S F.1 6.13. FI6.142 E6. 11 1a 2 fir (HACTBIE PART 5T ROK i a fi INVENTOR.

JAMES E- l ARD BY M/WVM ssn/r United States Patent 3,231,168 FASTENERFORMZNG AND DRKVING TUUL fairies E. Ward, Glendora, Calih, assignor tolowers Wire Products Company, Inc, El Monte, Calif, 21 corporation ofCalifornia Filed Nov. f3, 1963, Ser. No. 324,462 8 Claims. (Cl. 227-88)This invention relates to fasteners and is particularly concerned with atool that delivers fastener blanks one at a time, forms them intofinished fasteners, and then drives them into work.

The art relating to fasteners and tools for driving them ischaracterized by air operated tools that drive U-shaped staples. Thereare, of course, other types of fasteners but it is a U-shaped fastenerof improved construction with which the present invention is concerned.For instance, U-shaped fasteners have been made of both round andflattened wire, formed into U configuration and cemented together intostick formation. These sticks of aligned fasteners are inserted into themagazine of a tool which savers one fastener at a time from the stickand drives it into work. The usual arrangement of the tool involves amagazine extending at a right angle to the axis of driving, whereby eachfastener is driven off the end of the stick and directly into work, themagazine being disposed parallel to the plane of the work in order forthe fastener to enter the work at a normal angle. it becomes obviousthat this ordinary arrangement of the magazine relative to the drivingaxis of the tool is space consuming and cumbersome. That is, with sticksof appreciable length the magazine becomes extensive in a lateraldirection, and this lateral extension of the magazine imposeslimitations on the use of the tool, in that there are places andconditions where such a tool is inoperable and useless.

Further, sticks of completed U-shaped fasteners have disadvantages. Forexample, staples made of wire have limited head area and consequentlyhave cutting action when driven onto work. If the work involves theholding of fabrics and the like the usual bar-shaped head will cut andpull through the work. Therefore, the usual fastener in the form of awire staple has disadvantages and has limited use.

A general object of this invention is to correlate an improved tool ofthe type under consideration with an improved fastener of the type underconsideration, Whereby lateral projection of the magazine is avoided andwhereby a fastener of substantially increased head area is possible whenso desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fastener driving toolthat handles a stick of fastener blanks, to advance the blanks one at atime to form the blanks into finished fasteners and then to drive saidfinished fasteners into work.

t is an object of this invention to provide a fastener driving tool asthus far referred to wherein the magazine for storage of fasten-erblanks is substantially parallel to the drive axis of the tool. By thisrelationship, projected extension of a magazine is eliminated and saidmagazine lies alongside the drive means of the tool.

it is an object of this invention to provide a fastener driving tool asthus far referred to wherein fastener blanks are advanced by meanssequenced with the drive means of the tool, all controlled by a simplethree-way valve.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fastener driving tool asthus far referred to wherein fastener blanks are advanced and supportedby die-blocks while formation of the finished fastener occurs, allcontrolled by a simple three-way valve.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fastener r formed into afastener.

3,231,168 Patented Jan. 25, 1956 "too driving tool as thus far referredto wherein fastener blanks are advanced and formed into fasteners andthen driven into work, all controlled by a simple three-way valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved U-shapedfasteners wherein the head portion extending between the two legs isfiat and will not cut into work, and wherein sticks of blanks for theformation of such fasteners can be advantageously made up of a stick offlat identical sheet metal punched parts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an extremelycompact tool for handling sticks of fastener blanks, to form and thendrive said blanks, and wherein the magazine of the tool extendsalongside the drive means, thereby exposing the driving head of the toolwithout any encumbrances which usually characterize such tools.

The various objects and features of this invention will be f iliyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred form and application thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the fastener driving tool. FIG. 2is a perspective View of a blank to be FIG. 3 is a perspective view of astick of assembled blanks. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a finishedfastener as formed by the tool shown in MG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectionthrough work showing the manner in which the U-shaped fastener is driveninto said work. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line6-6 on FIG. 1. FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged detailed sectional viewstaken substantially as indicated by lines 7-7, 8-3 and 9-9 on FIG. 1.FIG. it? is an enlarged perspective View of one of the die-blocksinvolved in forming the finished U-shaped fastener. FIG. 11 is afragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by line 1fr-l1 on FIG. 9.FIGS. 12, 13 and 114 are perspective views illustrating the progressivepositions of the working parts of the tool in the formation and drivingof the finished U-shaped fastener. FIG. 15 is a detailed sectionillustrating the position of parts as they occur in FIG. 13, and FIG. 16is a detailed section illustrating the position of parts as they occurin FIG. 14.

The fastener forming and driving tool hereinafter disclosed ispreferably a hand tool operated pneumatically and adapted to bemanipulated on an axis disposed normal to the Work into which fastenersare to be installed thereby. in FIG. 1 the general relationship ofelements is best illustrated and wherein the tool comprises a frame Awith a drive axis a normal to the surface it of the work W, a drive headB disposed on said axis a, blank support means C at the head B, blankforming means D cooperating with the means C to bend the blank into afinished U-shaped fastener, fastener driving means E cooperating withthe forming means I) to drive the finished U-shaped fastener through andfrom the head B, a magazine supply means F storing the blanks, blankadvance means G moving individual blanks into supporting engagement onthe means C for engagement by the forming means D, and valve means Isupplying air under pressure to the means D, E and G to actuate the sameand to exhaust air therefrom.

The fastener X, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, 14 and 16, is essentiallya U-shaped fastener having a transverse head Ill and a pair of spacedparallel legs 12. This particular U-shaped fastener is unique in thatthe head ll. is a flat disc-shaped element with a pair of legs 12depending from opposite peripheral points, it being understood thatordinary U-shaped fastener blanks made of straight wire can also befinished and driven by the tool hereinafter described. In accordancewith the invent-ion, the fastener X is formed from a blank Y which is offlat formation patterned to have the features of the finished fastenerX. FIG. 2 illustrates the blank Y as it is formed with diametricallyopposite projecting extensions 12 which are to be bent so as to form thelegs 12, the blank Y being a sheet metal punching or stamping. As shown,the extensions 12 are symmetrical and tapered to sharp points, thewidest portion of each leg being at the point of joinder with the head11 and about one-third the 'width of the head. As is clearly illustratedin FIG. 3 the blanks Y are assembled or stacked together and aligned oneexactly over the other so as to form a stick Z when cemented together.The stick Z is straight and composed of a multiplicity of identicalblanks Y.

The frame A is typical of tools of this type and is shown as a castinghaving a cylinder portion 15 and a grip portion 16. The frame A, whichis essentially the complete tool, comprises only these two portions 15and 16 with no other major protuberances to encumber the same. Thecylinder portion 15 is bored at 17 to have a cylinder openingtherethrough, there being a cylinder head 18 closing the top of thecylinder and secured in place by a lock wire 19. The grip portion 16extends laterally from one side of the portion 15 and carries the valvemeans i and receives the service connection 2'0. The connection Ztl is,for instance, an air hose connection that supplies air under pressure tothe valve means I.

The drive head B is located at the lower end of the cylinder portion 15,the said portion 15 and head B being centered on the axis a. Inpractice, the frame A and head B are separate parts, the former beingcast of light Weight metal and the latter being machined of some durablemetal such as steel. Thus, the frame A terminates in a lower end face 21(see FIG. 6), and the head B has an upper end face 22 engaged againstface 21. The frame A and head B can be rigidly joined, however, it ispreferred that the head B be removable, in which case it is pinned tothe frame A at 2-3 so as to swivel downwardly and forwardly away fromthe frame. The head B is secured in operating position by a suitablehook or latch (not shown). The head B has a central driveway 24therethrough, a driveway of round cross-section and concentric with theaxis a. The driveway 24 opens at the bottom of the head B at a pointspaced substantially downward from the face 21.

The blank support means C is provided to receive and carry a blank Y asis shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 9 and 12. In these figures it will be seen thatthe blank Y has been advanced into alignment with the axis a and issupported for engagement by the forming means D. The means C involvesone or more separable blocks and is shown as a pair of of separableblocks 25 which are identically opposite in form, the right hand block25 being illustrated in detail in FIG. 10. From FIGS. 1, 6 and 9 it willbe seen that the head B has a transverse opening 26 therethrough andwhich opens at the top and opposite sides of the head B. The blocksfully occupy the opening 26, coming together at a center planecoincidental with the axis a. Further, the blocks 25 have oppositeflanges 27 engaged in corresponding channels 23 in the head B, wherebysaid blocks are captured and permitted to move transversely and apartonly. Specifically, each lock has an inner end 29, a top 3t) and an openside 31. There is a recess 32 at the open side 31 for receiving blanks Yand the block 25 is characterized by a blank supporting shelf 33 and bya well 34-. The shelf 33 is parallel to and located below the top adistance substantially greater than the thickness of a blank Y, thedepth of recess 32 being the same. However, the shelf 33 is confined toan area which will underlie the disc-shaped head it of the blank Y,while the recess 32 continues laterally so as to adequately clear theleg extension 12'. In practice, the well 34 is of the same lateralextent as the recess 32. The well 34 terminates short of the bottom ofthe block 25 and opens at the inner end 29. The foregoing are thegeneral and necessary features of the blocks l- 25 which receive andsupport the blanks Y, which permit operation therein of the formingmeans D, and which permit movement of the blocks 25 so as to allowdriving of the finished fasteners X.

As shown throughout the drawings, the blocks 25 are refined so as toposition blanks Y advanced therein as clearly shown in FIG. 9. Noticethat when the ends 29 are together the recess is enlarged arcuately at35, above the plane of shel. 33, to be engaged by and to stop the curvedperiphery of the head 11. Also, the blocks are relieved at 36 so thatwhen they are apart, as will be later described, the driveway 24 is ineffect continued through and between said blocks. Also, the blocks arenotched at 37 so as to pass enlarged or reinforced parts of the blankadvance means G to be described. As is best shown in FIG. 9 a springclip 39 partially encompasses the head B and is carried in a retaininggroove and has end portions biased to urge the two blocks 25? together.

The blank forming means D is provided to finish the blank Y into afinished fastener X by turning or bending down the two extensions 12 sothat they present straight depending parallel legs. The means Dinvolves, generally, a piston operable in the bore at 1'? and a former41 carried and driven by the piston and operable into the wells 34 ofthe pair of blocks 25. In accordance with the invention the piston as isa tubular element which has a bore 42 for means E hereinafter describedand which has a snubber cushion 43 to arrest motion of the means E. Thetubular element or piston 49 and cushion 43 are truncated at 45 so as toclear the magazine supply means P which advantageously feeds closely tothe axis a. Piston 40 has a head 4-6 with an Q-ring seal operable inthe.

bore 17 so that air under pressure beneath head 18 forces the pistondownwardly. The former 41 is a flat element about the thickness of thewidth of legs 12 and it depends rom the piston 48 in a plane thatextends transversely through the axis a. The bottom end of frame A isprovided with an opening 47 to guide the former 31 and so that theformer ll will project into the wells 4-3 when it is operated. Inaccordance with the invention, the former 1.4 is bifurcated so as tohave a pair of parallel arms spaced to pass by the disc-shaped head 11of the blank Y. However, the lower active ends 48 engage directly on anddepress the extensions 12' and bend them downwardly to form the legs 12,as best illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15. In practice, the arms of former51 are chamfered at 49 which initiates and facilitates bending. Noticethat the former 41 has moved about or little more than half its strokein order to fully accomplish bending of the blank Y into a finishedfastener X which is still supported fully by the shelves 33 of the twoblocks 25 (the blocks 25 have not yet moved).

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16 it will be seen that a part stroke ofpiston 49 (FIGS. 13 and 15) effects full formation of a fastener X,after which completion of or a full stroke (FIGS. 14 and 16) effectslateral and opposite shifting of the two blocks 25. FIGS. 9, 10 and 15show that the blocks 25 when closed together for support of the blanks Ydo not permit passage of the finished fastener X and driver into thedriveway 2d, whereby said driver acts as a presser that holds the blankY on said shelves 33. Therefore, and in accordance with the in vention,final movement of the piston 4t and former 41 into its full strokeposition is utilized to effect re-positioning of the blocks 25' so as torelease the finished fastener X and to separate the relieved portions 36of the blocks to form a continuation of the driveway therebetween. Asdescribed above, the two blocks 25 are urged together in which case theycan be forced apart, preferably by cam means incorporated in the former41 and co-acting with opposed steps fitl in the blocks. As shown, thesteps 5i) are positioned intermediate the tops 39 and bottoms of wells34, the opposite edges of the former it being chamfered or curved at 51to have a cam action that spreads the blocks to the positions shown inF165. 14 and 16.

With the forming means D fully operated as above described, the tool isconditioned for operation of the fastener driving means E which is anormal means of this type except that it operates within the tubularpiston 40. In accordance with the invention the means E involves adriver 52 actuated by a piston 53 and under delaying control of a valve54. Since the fastener X has a round head 11 the driver 52 is round andin the form of an elongated rod with a flat drive face 55. The driver'52 operates along the axis a and when in a normal unactuated positionthe face 55 is in a plane coincidental 'with the ends 48 of the former41, while the piston 53 projects from the top of piston 40 so as toengage within the valve 54. A return spring 56 is seated in the piston44) and engaged under piston 53 so as to lift the forming means D to theunactuated position shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 12, and a return spring 56is seated in the frame A and engaged under piston 53 to lift the drivingmeans E. The valve 54 can vary widely and is preferably a cylindricalrecess 57 in head 18 to receive the top portion of piston 53, therebeing an O-ring seal 58 to effect a tight fit. A check valve 59 iscarried in the head 18 to exhaust air from the recess 57 and so as topermit free entry of piston 53 into the head 18. The head portion of thepiston 53 which engages in recess 57 is somewhat smaller in diameterthan the portion which slides in the bore 42 so that the pressureexerted on the driver 52 is limited. In practice, the piston moves but ashort distance (between the positions shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) in orderfor the driver 52 to press upon the blank Y supported by support meansC, all without retraction of piston 53 from recess 5'7. Thus, full forceand effect of piston 53 is not gained until the support means C isreleased so as to permit retraction of piston 53 from recess 57,whereupon the driver $2 is operated to the position shown in FIGS. 14and 16 to accelerate the fastener X and to strike said fastener into thework W (see FIG. 5).

The magazine supply means F is uniquely situated with respect to theframe A of the tool, being characterized by its dispositionalongside thecylinder bore 17. As it is shown the means F is substantially parallelto the axis a but preferably inclined somewhat with its lowermostdelivery end at or as close as is possible to the axis a. withoutinterfering with movement of the driver 52. In the particular caseillustrated the means F is inclined upwardly and away from bore 17 atabout 9, in which case the lower and rear side portion of bore 17 istruncated, thereby requiring the truncation of piston 4t and snubber 43at 45, as above described. As shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 11 the magazinesupply means F involves a guideway as that extends along an inclinedaxis h offset rearward of the axis a, the axes a and b being in a commonplane disposed normal to the transverse movement of the blocks Z5. Sincethe guideway rid is formed through the body of material of frame A andintersects the bore 17, the forward side thereof is established by aliner 61 which makes the truncation and closeness of delivery feasible(see FIGS. 1 and 8). The cross-section of guideway 60 freely passes theplan configuration of the blanks Y and opens at the top and the bottomof the frame. In order to deliver blanks Y at the bottom face 21 of theframe a presser 62 engages the top of stick Z of blanks to force theminto supported engagement on the face .22 of head B. The presser 62involves a spring-wheel that is anchored and comprises a clock-typespring which draws a follower downwardly in a tube 64. A finger projectsfrom the follower and through aligned slots in the tube and frame A,said finger es entering the guideway 6%? to press the blanks Ydownwardly. The tube 64 is withdrawable from frame A for loadingpurposes, upwardly, and is pulled into the operating position by thespring pressure and held secure by serrations 66 engaged by a detent 67at the lower end of tube (see FIG. 11).

In accordance with the invention the blank advance means G is providedto insert blanks Y into forming position in the head B. Since a blank Ymust be in said forming position upon actuation of the tool, whereuponthe means D first operates, the means G now under consideration isoperative to advance a blank Y upon release of means D and E to anormally unactuated position. The means G is then operative to retractupon operation of means D and E to function as above described. That is,the means G functions reversely in respect to the function of the abovedescribed means D and E. As shown, the blank advance means G involves aslide 7d operable from a retracted position to an advanced position in aplane at and normal to the lower end of the guideway 60, means '71yieldingly urging the slide 7% to said advanced position, and retractingmeans 72 to withdraw the slide it? from said advanced position. Theslide 76 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9 and is a flat knife-likeelement that has an upper face to support the stick Z. When the slide 7%is retracted the face 22 of head B supports the stick Z with one blank Ypositioned below the guideway 6d, whereby advancement of the slide 70severe the lowermost blank Y from the stick Z and places said blank inalignment with axis a to be supported by shelves 33. The means 71 ispreferably a spring means that yieldiugly urges the slide into saidadvanced position. The retracting means 72 is preferably a pneumaticmeans, shown as a cylinder 74 and piston 75 that retracts the slide 7%In practice, the means 72 is disposed on an axis normal to the slide'79, in which case it is coupled to the slide through a rack and piniondrive which transfer reciprocation of piston 75 to the slide 70. In thecase illustrated, the said drive involves, a rack-shaped piston rodmoved forwardly by piston 75 and biased backwardly by spring means 71,and a pinion idler 76 driven by the rack and driving the slide with arack '77 thereon. Thus, the means G lies alongside the means F and doesnot protrude from the tool.

The valve means i is a fluid pressure supply and exhaust means thatadmits and exhausts operating fluid to an from the top end of thecylinder bore 17 hereinabove described. The valve means I is preferablyformed in and carried by the frame A of the tool and, as shown, ishoused in the grip 11. In the case illustrated, the valve means 5involves a valve chest formed or machined in the grip 11, and a slide 86that is shiftably carried in the chest to control flow of fluid. Asshown, the chest 85 extends through the grip 11 to open at both thefront and back thereof, there being a recess 37 at the back of the chestand a recess 83 at the front of the chest. The recesses 87 and 8 are inthe form of counterbores, the recess 8'7 handling the inlet of fluidunder pressure and the recess 8% handling the exhaust of fluid. Apressure supply passage 89 connects the recess 37 to the serviceconnection 26 while the recess hi; simply opens to the outsideatmosphere at the exterior of the grip 11.

The slide 86 of the valve means I is freely shiftable in the chest 85and involves a plunger 9% that is operable in the recess 88 and a valvedisc d1 that is operable in the recess 87. A spring 92 is seated in acap 93 that confines the spring to the recess 87, the spring engagingand yieldingly urging the disc 5 1 into contact with a seat in therecess. An extension M projects from the plunger 9i! and is engaged byand is operated by a trigger 95. When the valve means I is actuated todepress the extension 94 the disc 91 is lifted from the seat allowingpassage of fluid under pressure to a passage 1% that is in communicationwith the upper end of the cylinder bore 17 and upper end of cylinder 14,while the plunger 9i? enters the chest 8;? to close the exhaust recess.When the valve means is released to the position shown in FIG. 1 thedisc Q1 is seated to close the recess 87 while the plunger N opens therecess 88 to exhaust fluid from the upper end of the cylinder bore 17and upper end of cylinder 74.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the blankadvancing means G is operative when the valve means I is released, tosever a blank Y from the stick Z and to advance the blank intosupporting engagement with the shelves 33. This advancement of the blankinto position is by the spring bias permitted to function when air underpressure is exhausted from the means G. When the means D and means E areunactuated the ends 48 and face 55 are at the plane of the face 21, tothe end that the blank Y is contained within a chamber from which itcannot be displaced, Upon manual actuation of the valve means I theblank forming means D operates with the aid of the presser actionafforded by limited movement of the driving means E, followed by fulloperation of the driving means E, and during the time that movement ofthe driving means E is limited by the support means C the slide '72 ofmeans G is retracted so as to receive the next successive blank Y. Uponrelease of the valve means I the above operations are repeated.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners and for drivingsaid fasteners, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

(c) means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including separable blocks movable together in said opening toreleasably support a blank in said driveway,

(e) means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion to formthe supported blank into a finishcd fastener and then to separate theblocks,

(f) and means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion todrive the finished fastener through and from the driveway,

(g) there being means to sequentially operate the two pistons in theorder described.

2. A tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners and for drivingsaid fasteners, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

() means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including separable blocks movable together in said openingand each block having a blank supporting shelf,

(e) means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion to formthe blank supported on said shelves and into a finished fastener andthen to separate the blocks, thereby removing the shelf support,

(if) and means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion todrive the finished fastener through and from the driveway,

g) there being means to sequentially operate the two pistons in theorder described.

3. A tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners and for drivingsaid fasteners, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

(0) means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including separable blocks movable together in said openingand each block having a blank supporting shelf positioned in thedriveway when said blocks are together, and each block having a welltherein adjacent the shelf and driveway,

(e) means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion andhaving a depending former operable into each of said wells to form theblank supported on said shelves establishing a finished fastener,

(f) and means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion todrive the finished fastener through and from the driveway,

(g) there being means to sequentially operate the two pistons in theorder described.

4. A tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners and for drivingsaid fasteners, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

(0) means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including separable blocks movable together in said openingand each block having a blank supporting shelf positioned in thedriveway when said blocks are together, and each block having a welltherein adjacent the shelf and driveway and with a step in each well,

(e) means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion andhaving a depending former operable into each of said wells to form theblank supported on said shelves establishing a finished fastener and toengage said steps to separate the blocks thereby withdrawing saidshelves from the driveway and releasing said finished fastener,

(f) and means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion todrive the finished fastener through and from the driveway,

(g) there being means to sequentially operate the two pistons in theorder described.

5. A tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners and for drivingsaid fasteners, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

(c) means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including separable blocks movable in said opening toreleasably support a blank in said driveway,

(e) forming means operable in said cylinder portion and including anormally raised and downwardly operable tubular piston to form thesupported blank into a finished fastener and then to separate theblocks, there being means biased against the frame to raise the saidtubular piston,

(f) and drive means operable in said cylinder portion and including anormally raised and downwardly operable piston within a bore in thefirst mentioned piston to drive the finished fasteners through and fromthe driveway, there being means biased against the first mentionedpiston to raise the second men tioned piston,

(g) and there being means to sequentially operate the two pistons in theorder described.

6. A tool for the dispensing of blanks stacked in stick formation byformation thereof of each individual blank into a finished fastener andfor driving said fasteners into Work, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion on a drive axis,

(1)) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

() means including separable blocks movable together in said opening toreleasably support a blank in said driveway at said opening,

(d) forming means operable in said cylinder portion and including areturned biased downwardly operable piston to form the supported blankinto a finished fastener and then to separate the blocks,

(e) drive means operable in said cylinder portion and including a returnbiased downwardly operable pis ton to drive the finished fastenerthrough and from the driveway,

(f) a magazine supply means storing said stick of blanks alongside thecylinder portion and discharging the blanks at the drive head andadjacent the driveway therein,

(g) and advance means to move fasteners discharged from the supply meansand including a slide movable toward said drive axis and engageable withsuccessive blanks to move them to said drive axis,

(h) and there being a control to reversely operate the said forming anddrive means with respect to the said advance means to simultaneouslyform and drive and retract the slide to receive the next successivefastener.

7. A fluid operated tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners andfor driving said fasteners, and comprising,

(a) a frame having a cylinder portion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and With a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

(c) means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including transversely separable blocks movable together insaid opening to releasably support a blank in said driveway at saidopening,

(e) means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion to formthe supported blank into a finished fastener and then to separate theblocks,

(f) and means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion todrive the finished fastener be- 5 tween the separated blocks and fromthe driveway,

(g) there being means to sequentially operate the two pistons in theorder described.

8. A fluid-operated tool for the formation of blanks into fasteners andfor driving said fasteners, and com- (a) a frame having a cylinderportion disposed on a drive axis,

(b) a drive head at the lower end of the frame and with a fastenerdriveway therethrough on said axis and with an opening disposedtransversely through the driveway,

(c) means to advance fastener blanks into the driveway at said opening,one at a time,

(d) means including transversely separable blocks rnovable together insaid opening to releasably support a blank in said driveway at saidopening,

(e) means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion to formthe supported blank into a tinished fastener and then to separate theblocks,

(f) and means actuated by a piston operable in said cylinder portion topress the supported blank into firm engagement with said blocks and thento separate the blocks and to drive the finished fastener through andfrom the driveway,

(g) there being valve means controlled. by movement of the lastmentioned means to apply reduced pressure to the last mentioned pistonto press the supported blank and to apply increased pressure to the lastmentioned piston to drive the finished fastener through and from thedriveway.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS2/1928 France.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner.

1. A TOOL FOR THE FORMATION OF BLANKS INTO FASTENERS AND FOR DRIVINGSAID FASTENERS, AND COMPRISING, (A) A FRAME HAVING A CYLINDER PORTIONDISPOSED ON A DRIVE AXIS, (B) A DRIVE HEAD AT THE LOWER END OF THE FRAMEAND WITH A FASTENER DRIVEWAY THERETHROUGH ON SAID AXIS AND WITH ANOPENING DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE DRIVEWAY, (C) MEANS TO ADVANCEFASTENER BLANKS INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT SAID OPENING, ONE AT A TIME, (D)MEANS INCLUDING SEPARABLE BLOCKS MOVABLE TOGETHER IN SAID OPENING TORELEASABLY SUPPORT A BLANK IN SAID DRIVEWAY, (E) MEANS ACTUATED BY APISTON OPERABLE IN SAID CYLINDER PORTION TO FORM THE SUPPORTED BLANKINTO A FINISHED FASTENER AND THEN TO SEPARATE THE BLOCKS, (F) AND MEANSACTUATED BY A PISTON OPERABLE IN SAID CYLINDER PORTION TO DRIVE THEFINISHED FASTENER THROUGH AND FROM THE DRIVEWAY, (G) THERE BEING MEANSTO SEQUENTIALLY OPERATE THE TWO PISTONS IN THE ORDER DESCRIBED.